A DERELICT pub which closed shortly after a woman was shot there could be demolished.
A planning application has been submitted to build seven flats on the site of the Vernon pub in Vernon Road, Old Basford.
A 23-year-old woman was shot in the beer garden of the pub on August 17 last year.
The pub closed soon after and has remained boarded up since.
Six people are still on bail as police investigations continue into the case.
Now a planning application has been submitted to Nottingham City Council by Bassi Properties Ltd, of Basford, which wants to convert the vacant pub into seven flats.
Neighbourhood watch member Iris Busley, of Skylark Close in Old Basford, said she approved of the plans because the empty pub looked "horrible".
Ms Busley, 66, said: "It is sad how the pub has closed. Ten years ago it was a nice place to go. I went there quite a lot.
"I think using the pub as flats will make it look better because at the moment it is boarded up and looks horrible.
"It went downhill quickly. I hadn't been in there much over recent years and the shooting was extremely shocking."
Ms Busley, who says her elderly neighbours have raised concerns with neighbourhood watch about the pub standing empty, added: "I know there are a few concerns in the area about who would live in the flats. If the pub is turned into family flats that will be a good thing. It looks awful at the moment."
Christine Castle, 49, of Athorpe Grove, off Vernon Avenue, said it was sad the pub had closed but was pleased a use could be found for it.
She said: "The pub has been there for over 100 years, so for it to end up as flats is quite sad. But I would rather that than it stood empty."
The managing director of Bassi Properties Ltd, Avinash Bassi, said the flats would be geared at young professionals.
He said: "We bought the pub around Christmas time and after speaking to nearby residents we decided to put in a planning application to convert it for residential use.
"Many of the residents said they liked the idea of it being used as flats. There are no plans to use the flats for ex-offenders or those on probation, if people are concerned about that.
"They will be one-bedroom self-contained flats geared at young professionals, with car parking to the rear."
